[Akira's gaze flickers from Akechi towards the rest of the room, eyes sweeping across the destroyed landscape. for the first time in six-nearly-seven weeks. . . things feel so, so quiet]
[. . .]
It's kind of creepy, isn't it?
[he asks, lifting one arm to gestures to the museum room]
[Conversationally. It doesn't sound like he agrees or disagrees, either way. Though... the fact that he knows everyone is still out there probably helps stave off some of the eeriness.]
If you're here, I assume you said your goodbyes to everyone who's still left.
[he is absolutely not looking at Akechi, but still he rolls the birdcage between his fingers, before he closes it in his hand, grip so tight his knuckles are white]
[. . .]
No. Not yet.
[his own voice is also perfectly even]
I asked her to wait for me.
[oh]
Because I needed to resolve things with you first.
At that, Akechi's tone shifts into something significantly more aggravated... and defensive.]
You must be joking. [A scoff.] There is nothing to resolve. If you reciprocate her feelings, you should have said so instead of wasting both of your times.
[he answers that without any hesitation, because. . . he does, doesn't he? deeply and truly, a warmth he had nursed from a tiny little seed that was planted there when he found her crying after Asch's false conviction]
But I kissed you. Twice.
[and finally, he looks over at Akechi, but his face is still completely unreadable]
And you kissed me back.
[and they need to do something with that, because Akira doesn't want anyone else to be hurt]
[A small, sharp intake of breath — and an exhale. That's... something. It sure is something! His voice is quieter when he speaks up again, like he can't believe the shit he's hearing.]
... Are you insane? Don't you think that's exactly the reason you need to drop it?
[there's a pause on Akira's end too, a long stretch of silence as Akira's form deflates, as he presses the pendant even closer to his heart]
[. . .]
I don't know. Maybe.
[haha maybe?? maybe?? maybe he should take the Akechi route and not talk about it. maybe he should pretend that it never happened, and just go on like normal. because maybe then--]
[. . .]
[. . . it's not like him not to be honest about how he feels, though. is it??]
But I don't want to date you. I don't. And above all else, I really--
[. . .]
[a little more softly]
I really. . . care about her. I want her to be happy. And I want to be happy. . . . [he breathes out deeply] With her.
[but he feels. . . something similar to a release when Akechi says that last part. part of him wants to ask-- are you really okay with that? but he already knows the answer he'd get, so the words die on his tongue before he can speak them]
[. . .]
[this should be the last time he ever brings it up. he isn't stupid; he knows that Akechi likely harbors some measure of hurt for what he did. but. . .]
[If he didn't want Akechi to rub it in, then he shouldn't have brought this onto himself? Akechi feels zero pity for him. This was easily avoided, you fool.]
After you spoke to her, obviously. Don't ask me to give you the precise hour.
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[Akira's gaze flickers from Akechi towards the rest of the room, eyes sweeping across the destroyed landscape. for the first time in six-nearly-seven weeks. . . things feel so, so quiet]
[. . .]
It's kind of creepy, isn't it?
[he asks, lifting one arm to gestures to the museum room]
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[Conversationally. It doesn't sound like he agrees or disagrees, either way. Though... the fact that he knows everyone is still out there probably helps stave off some of the eeriness.]
If you're here, I assume you said your goodbyes to everyone who's still left.
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I didn't say "goodbye."
I said "I'll see you later."
[because he will. he has already decided that much. and once Kurusu Akira decides something, nothing can change his mind]
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... Well, you're not wrong. We will see them later if we fail and the house consumes what's left of our souls.
[It's just, you know. They will see each other later while being slowly digested.]
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You're just a shining ray of sunshine today, aren't you?
I should've brought a pair of sunglasses.
[plz note: he is wearing Rise's glasses. not his own]
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[Smiles! A very fake smile. The detective price kind of smile... before it mellows down into something more muted as he examines him.
After a beat:]
You traded your glasses for Luna's necklace, didn't you?
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[his hand dips into his pocket again, moving as though it's curling around something else. but whatever it is, he doesn't withdraw it]
Hn.
How'd you guess?
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[He makes a motion with his left hand. His index finger trails from his neck to somewhere halfway down his chest.]
She wore your glasses strung around a piece of twine.
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[and he pulls the small birdcage pendant from his pocket, toying with it between his fingers. his gaze grows a bit distant, a bit. . .]
[. . .]
[well, it's hard to read. he doesn't look at Akechi when he next speaks, his voice even]
She kissed me before she left.
[aha]
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... You two did seem awfully close.
[Tone even. Akira might not be looking at Akechi, but Akechi sure as heck is watching him.]
Should I say congratulations?
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[. . .]
No. Not yet.
[his own voice is also perfectly even]
I asked her to wait for me.
[oh]
Because I needed to resolve things with you first.
[. . . oh]
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Akira, you dumbass.
At that, Akechi's tone shifts into something significantly more aggravated... and defensive.]
You must be joking. [A scoff.] There is nothing to resolve. If you reciprocate her feelings, you should have said so instead of wasting both of your times.
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[he answers that without any hesitation, because. . . he does, doesn't he? deeply and truly, a warmth he had nursed from a tiny little seed that was planted there when he found her crying after Asch's false conviction]
But I kissed you. Twice.
[and finally, he looks over at Akechi, but his face is still completely unreadable]
And you kissed me back.
[and they need to do something with that, because Akira doesn't want anyone else to be hurt]
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[He stares back at him, his expression matching the tone of his voice.]
Is your memory that faulty? I said it before: It was a lapse in judgement. This is the third time I've told you to drop it.
[The only thing they need to do with that is forget and move on, thanks.]
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[and there it is. a small hint of frustration in his tone as his careful mask cracks]
I want to talk about it, because some stupid part of me wants to kiss you again, and I don't know what to do with that.
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[A small, sharp intake of breath — and an exhale. That's... something. It sure is something! His voice is quieter when he speaks up again, like he can't believe the shit he's hearing.]
... Are you insane? Don't you think that's exactly the reason you need to drop it?
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[. . .]
I don't know. Maybe.
[haha maybe?? maybe?? maybe he should take the Akechi route and not talk about it. maybe he should pretend that it never happened, and just go on like normal. because maybe then--]
[. . .]
[. . . it's not like him not to be honest about how he feels, though. is it??]
But I don't want to date you. I don't. And above all else, I really--
[. . .]
[a little more softly]
I really. . . care about her. I want her to be happy. And I want to be happy. . . . [he breathes out deeply] With her.
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[This entire conversation is... aging him. About ten years per second, really. He looks away from him, letting his eyes roam the room as he speaks.]
... You're aware of your feelings. So what, exactly, is the point of this conversation?
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To make sure I'm not hurting yours.
[. . . or. . . ?]
Or to apologize if I already have.
. . . to-- to fix it.
[and yes, he knows exactly how selfish that is]
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What a mess.
He focuses on the glass on the floor, frowning.]
I have asked you to drop it three times, Akira. [Slowly, like he's speaking to a child.] What you choose to do beyond that... is none of my concern.
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[what a mess indeed]
[but he feels. . . something similar to a release when Akechi says that last part. part of him wants to ask-- are you really okay with that? but he already knows the answer he'd get, so the words die on his tongue before he can speak them]
[. . .]
[this should be the last time he ever brings it up. he isn't stupid; he knows that Akechi likely harbors some measure of hurt for what he did. but. . .]
[. . .]
Okay.
[this is where it ends. where it really ends]
Then. . . that's it.
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[Echoing that. That's it. That's all. Third time's the charm. With that, they can just... move on and forget.
But.
After a beat:]
You'll have to apologize. She looked like shit when I spoke to her.
[Because, you know, he has to rub in the fact that Akira hecked up. #akiracrimes continue...]
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[he lifts both hands, digging the heels of his palms into his eyes as he lets out a frustrated noise. of course he has to rub it in!! of course!!]
[it's fine, Akira won't argue]
I know, I know. I really. . . hecked up.
-- when did you talk to her?
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After you spoke to her, obviously. Don't ask me to give you the precise hour.
[Timey wimey PC shenanigans...]
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. . . fair enough.
[huffs a little, and the pendant-- the one he was holding onto so tightly his knuckles hurt-- goes back into his pocket]
[. . .]
I don't know what to do.
[he doesn't expect advice. if anything, he expects another admonishment-- well-deserved. but he doesn't. . . know what to do]
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